Blue Point Congregational Church

A UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE OR WHERE YOU ARE ON LIFE’S JOURNEY, YOU ARE WELCOME HERE.

Dear Church,

Over the weekend, what is being considered as the deadliest mass shooting in the U.S. took place in Orlando, Florida - taking the lives of 49 innocent people, the life of the gunman, injuring another 53 people, and traumatizing an entire city. While it is too soon to proclaim a motive, it appears that this night club was targeted as a place frequented primarily by those in the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender) community.

As people of faith and followers of Jesus Christ, we must ask: How do we respond? There is a passage in one of Paul's letters that reads: "Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep." So today, may we weep with the city of Orlando as their citizens reel from this horrific crime happening in their community. May we weep with the families of those who have lost beloved ones. May we weep with our brothers and sisters of the gay community - in Orlando, and throughout this nation and the world - who continue to be discriminated against, including acts of violence and murder, based on their sexual orientation and gender identity. And may we as a church of Jesus Christ be a voice in our community that speaks out against the voices and actions that perpetuate hate and homophobia. May we - as our identity statement reads: "wage peace"... so that all God's children may live lives full of joy, hope and love.